Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis of the RANTES polymorphisms -403G→A and -28G→C:: Evaluation of both variants as susceptibility factors to HIV type 1 infection in the Spanish population

The identification of genetic factors predisposing or protecting against HIV-1 infection has been an important aim in AIDS research. Two of these factors are located in the promoter region of the CCL5 gene, which encodes the RANTES ( regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted) chemokine, an inhibitor agent for M-tropic HIV-1 strains. More specifically, the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) -403G --> A and -28C --> G has been evaluated in the course of HIV-1 infection in several populations with different genetic, geographic, and ethnic backgrounds. Here we present a fast, simple, reliable, and efficient method for the simultaneous genotyping of these two CCL5 variants. A case-control study has been performed to evaluate the role of -403G --> A and -28C --> G as susceptibility factors for HIV-1 infection in the Spanish population. No differences have been found in the allelic frequencies of either variant or in the haplotype/ genotype distribution between patients and controls. These data would be consistent with a lack of association between these SNPs and HIV-1 infection in our population.